Today we’d like to introduce you to Izabela Rosa.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Izabela. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in a very small town in Maine and knew nothing about the beauty industry or what the possibilities were within the industry. I was never interested in going to a traditional college and just somehow knew I would be guided in the right direction for what I was meant to do. A few years later, I moved to Minneapolis where I began my journey as an esthetician. A friend of mine went to school in Boston to be an esthetician and she was the one who intrigued me to look at that as an option for myself.
Immediately I gravitated towards waxing, and very quickly, found I really enjoyed working on eyebrows. When I finished the program, I was introduced to a woman who owned salons in the city and the specialty was eyebrow shaping. At that time, she was the only one with a focus on such a thing. She had done a year long internship with a famous brow artist in Beverly Hills and brought the concept to Minneapolis. This was great timing as it was shortly after Anastasia, the very famous brow artist who brought eyebrow focus to the US, was interviewed on Oprah. Since everything Oprah touches turns to gold, the focus on eyebrows really took off and became an important part of a woman’s self-care routine.
A few years later, I decided the winter weather wasn’t for me and made the move to sunny San Diego. Continuing my journey as a brow artist, I was hired at an Anastasia trained brow boutique in La Jolla, where I learned more advanced skills.
After finding my footing in San Diego, I became an independent contractor and worked hard to make a name for myself by dedicating my time to my growing clientele.
Four years later, I felt the time had come for me to open my very own studio. On December 1, 2016, I opened the doors at Brows of a Feather.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There absolutely have been bumps in the road. This is an industry that you have to dedicate yourself to and be self-motivated to succeed. It takes some time to get established and prove yourself in order to build a clientele. There are also many aspects and possibilities as an esthetician and finding what you gravitate towards can be a challenge in itself, but also very fun.
When I moved to San Diego, I had about 3 years of experience as a brow artist and left a steady clientele. I had to start from the bottom and prove myself again. Lots of emotions of frustration, self-doubt, second-guessing and insecurity happened in the first year. All those feelings challenged me to keep moving and pushing towards my goal, which was to one day own my very own eyebrow specialty studio.
When the time came to start my business, a whole new chapter of challenges presented themselves. As much as they were challenges, they were also some of my most favorite experiences to have. I decided that I wanted to dip my toes in all aspects of running a business to see where I thrived and where I lacked the interest and skill. From figuring out finance and taxes to creating a logo. From not even knowing what SEO meant, to learning how to build a website. All while trying to maintain a regular schedule to make sure my clients stayed happy.
The advice I would give is to allow the bumps to happen. Really feel and listen to what feelings you experience through your journey, bad and good. Recognize those are messages from the universe to let you know you’re doing just fine or to maybe shift your direction in the way you’re choosing to take your path. Keep your end goal and vision strong, no matter what. I really believe everyone can do anything and everything they want, as long as the mind set and work to get there override the obstacles.
Engulf yourself in the world of your vision and learn everything you can about it. Stop thinking and talking about it, just go for it.
Please tell us about Brows of a Feather.
My specialty is the art form of creating a perfect eyebrow for each individual. My first-time clients have a 30-minute experience where I explain what it is that I do with wax, tweezing and trimming and how we can together create the eyebrows of their dreams.
I also offer microblading. As the industry grows and changes, microblading has become a very in-demand service. Microblading is a form of permanent makeup which creates fuller and more symmetrical eyebrows.
I am most proud that I made my thoughts, vision and goal a reality. I can also proudly say that my focus has, and always will be my clients. It is always such a pleasure and heart warmer when someone decides to choose me to be the one they will trust for their service.
Truly, I don’t even think about what sets me apart from others. I do what I love, I am able to see my clients happy, and I work hard to continue that. I always try and create the best overall experience no matter if I’m seeing you for the first time or I’ve seen you for 7 years. I try not to worry about any competition or if I can rise above the rest. To me, that energy is better spent focusing on how to keep my business moving forward and on.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I have become a huge fan of podcasts! They really are an amazing source of creativity, motivation, new ideas and information, mindset, inspiration and so much more. There are so many different categories that you are available no matter what your interests are and they’re all in one simple app. I really get a pep in my step when I hear inspiring words and stories I can relate to.
My favorites are:
The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast
GirlBoss Radio
Goal Digger The Podcast
Style Your Mind
I also enjoy The Tim Ferris Show and Impact Theory to really get my mind really works.
Pricing:
- First-time eyebrow shaping $35
- Microblading $500
Contact Info:
- Address: 418 3rd Ave Unit A, San Diego, CA 92101
- Website: browsofafeathersd.com
- Phone: 619-993-9423
- Email: browsofafeathersd@gmail.com
- Instagram: browsofafeathersd
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
